Actress Kriti Sanon has opened up about the subtle but very real gender biases women still face in the film industry. In a heartfelt conversation with NDTV, the Mimi star shared how small, everyday moments have made her reflect on the unequal treatment female actors often receive compared to their male counterparts.

Talking about her childhood, Kriti said she grew up in a home where equality wasn’t just preached—it was practiced. She spoke especially fondly of her mother, who had to fight just for the right to study and had to give up her own dreams along the way. “Despite that, she always encouraged me to dream freely and chase whatever I wanted,” Kriti said.

But once she entered Bollywood, reality hit. While she says it hasn't happened often, there have been moments where she felt treated unfairly. “Little things like the male actor getting a better vanity van or a better car... It’s not about the car—it’s about not making me feel smaller just because I’m a woman,” she said. “Just make it equal.”

She also highlighted how certain habits on film sets go unnoticed but reflect deeper issues. For example, assistant directors often call the female actor early but wait for the male lead. “I’ve had to tell them not to do that,” she said. “The mindset needs to change.”

On the Work Front

Kriti recently starred in Do Patti, a Netflix thriller where she also took on the role of producer. The film, which also stars Kajol and Shaheer Sheikh, earned positive reviews from critics.

Next up, Kriti will be seen opposite Dhanush in Tere Ishk Mein, a romantic drama directed by Aanand L Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav. The film is set to hit theatres on November 28. She also has Cocktail 2 in the pipeline, co-starring Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.